West Saint Paul Antiques

CITATION:

"For heroism and extraordinary achievement in aerial flight while serving with Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 364, Marine Aircraft Group Sixteen, First Marine Aircraft Wing in connection with operations against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam. Early on the morning of 26 January 1969, First Lieutenant Sterling launched as Copilot aboard the lead aircraft in a flight of two CH-46 transport helicopters assigned the emergency medical evacuation of a seriously wounded Marine from an unsecure landing zone southwest of DaNang in Quang Nam Province. Realizing the urgency of extracting the injured man, First Lieutenant Sterling, undaunted by the total darkness, hazardous mountain terrain and threat of hostile fire, resolutely elected to assist in attempting the evacuation. As the helicopter approached the site, First Lieutenant Sterling was monitoring his radio for a briefing on the tactical situation in the landing zone when his aircraft was observed to suddenly veer to the right, and almost immediately, there was a flash and an explosion which fatally injured all the occupants. Aware that the CH-46 had crashed into a mountainside, the wingman approached the crash site to determine the fate of the helicopter and its crew and was forced to abort his approach due to intense enemy small arms and automatic weapons fire. First Lieutenant Sterling's courage, resolute determination and unwavering devotion to duty in a bold attempt to save the life of a fellow Marine were in keeping with the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life in the service of his country."

At about 3 AM on the morning of 26 Jan 1969 two CH-46s launched from Marble Mountain on an emergency medevac mission. The pick-up aircraft, CH-46D BuNo 153997, was crewed by

• 1st Lt John F Meyer, pilot
• 1st Lt David W Sterling, copilot
• LCpl David P Dolan, gunner
• LCpl James E Hannibal, gunner
• LCpl Michael J Schickel, gunner
• HN Richard M Lubin, Corpsman
• PFC Charles L Peddy, crew chief

The chase aircraft, piloted by 1st Lt Don Robbins, attempted to lower crewman LCpl Curtis P. Knox to the crash site to check for survivors, but when the jungle penetrator cable was fully extended Knox was still 50 feet above the ground. Robbins abandoned the attempt, only to find that the hoist retract was inoperable and Knox could not be hoisted aboard. Knox dangled below the CH-46D while Robbins flew six miles to the nearest secure landing zone, where he gently lowered his aircraft until Knox was safely on the ground.

These seven men, and the other Purple Foxes who served in Vietnam, are remembered by the women who waited at home, whether mothers, sisters, wives, daughters, or friends.

"On 27 July 1969 at 1530 hours, 17 miles SW of Da Nang, Quang Nam Province, RVN. Crew of YK-10 (bureau number 154018) of HMM-364 flying on an emergency medevac mission. Upon departure from the pick-up zone the aircraft received intense small arms fire and automatic fire. Aircraft impacted uncontrollably, exploded and burned. Aircraft consumed by fire. All crew and passengers were killed. Eleven lives were lost."

• 1stLt Robert William Armenio, pilot
• 1stLt Daunt Brunell Sanders, copilot
• GySgt Raymond Gibel, gunner
• HM1 Charles Lehman Hackworth, Corpsman, MAG-16
• Cpl John Henry Harris Jr., gunner
• Cpl John Thomas McDaniel, crew chief
• LCpl Michael F Gramlick, gunner
• LCpl Leon Ross Barickman, passenger Lima 3/5 Marines
• PFC Ronald James Scharf, passenger, F Bty, 2/11 Marines

CITATION:

"For heroism and extraordinary achievement in aerial flight while serving as a Pilot with Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 364, Marine Aircraft Group Sixteen, First Marine Aircraft Wing in connection with combat operations against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam. On 27 July 1969, First Lieutenant Armenio launched as Aircraft Commander of a CH-46 transport helicopter assigned an emergency medical and prisoner evacuation mission near An Hoa in Quang Nam Province. Unhesitatingly commencing his approach, he skillfully landed in the obstacle-studded zone and steadfastly remained in his vulnerable position until the casualties were embarked. Displaying superb airmanship, he then executed a takeoff, however, before clearing the area, the transport came under a heavy volume of hostile fire, sustained extensive damage, and crashed, mortally wounding all aboard. First Lieutenant Armenio's courage, superior aeronautical ability and unwavering devotion to duty inspired all who observed him and were in keeping with the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life in the service of his country."

• First, all available records indicate there was only one fatal helicopter incident in Quang Nam Province on 27 July 1969.
  
  
• Second, everyone agrees that incident involved CH-46A BuNo 154018. The HMM-364 site says there were eleven live people aboard - ten Americans and one prisoner - while the HMM-364 Command Chronology states

  "On 27 July 1969 at 1530 hours, 17 miles SW of Da Nang, Quang Nam Province, RVN. Crew of YK-10 (bureau number 154018) of HMM-364 flying on an emergency medevac mission. Upon departure from the pick-up zone the aircraft received intense small arms fire and automatic fire. Aircraft impacted uncontrollably, exploded and burned. Aircraft consumed by fire. All crew and passengers were killed. Eleven lives were lost."

• Third, there's no dispute that the supported ground unit was Lima Company, 3/5 Marines. The 3/5 Command Chronology contains the following entries:

  "271215H [12:15 PM, 27 Jul 1969] - Co L (S&D) at (AT971215) found what is believed to be an aid station. Results: 1 USMC KIA, 1 NVA KIA, 1 NVA POW"

  "271535H [3:35 PM, 27 Jul 1969] - Co L (Medevac mission) at (AT971405) Medevac chopper took fire and crashed at AT970404. On board were two pilots, 1 crew chief, two gunners, two corpsmen, one USMC KIA, one NVA POW, and two chasers from L company. Security could observe three bodies burning and pulled one body out of fire. No known survivors. Results: 5 USMC crew members killed, two USN KIA, 1 NVA KIA, 2 USMC KIA from Lima Company."

• Fourth, one man from Fox Battery, 2/11 Marines, was involved. The 2/11 Marines Command Chronology confirms that F Btry 2/11 was in direct support of 3/5 Marines and provided their Forward Observer teams. The casualty database and the Central Identification Laboratory Hawaii database confirm that one Fox 2/11 radioman was killed in a helicopter crash in Quang Nam Province on 27 July 1969.
  
  
• Fifth, the Vietnam Helicopter Pilots' Association states that ten men were killed in the crash, noting that an NVA POW was aboard - but the VHPA lists only five names.
  
  
• Sixth, it's clear that one or more wounded were aboard. The 3/5 Chronology clearly states they had placed the body of one Marine aboard. On another site Robert Garcia states that he "was bumped off [the helicopter] because our wounded and the POW's took priority."
  
  
• All sources agree there was one NVA POW on the aircraft.
  
  
• And finally, the casualty database, 3/5 Command Chronology, and other sources indicate Lima 3/5 lost three men on 27 July:
  • Cpl Ralph D. Storm, Union City, CA (Silver Star) (coded as a ground casualty)
  • LCpl Leon R. Barickman, Lewisville, MN (coded as an air casualty)
  • Pfc Paul M. Du Charm, Washington, DC (coded as a ground casualty)

The 3/5 Marines say they had one ground KIA (Corporal Storm, whose actions while assaulting the NVA position resulted in both his death and a posthumous Silver Star) and two "chasers" (prisoner guards) aboard the aircraft. The two chasers had to be LCpl Barickman and Pfc Du Charm, the other two Lima 3/5 Marines who died on 27 July 1969.

HMM-364 had six aircrewmen aboard the aircraft, not five as stated in the 3/5 Chronology or four as named in the VHPA database.

Only one Navy Corpsman was aboard the aircraft, not two; HM1 Charles L. Hackworth of MAG-16 was the only Corpsman who died in Quang Nam Province that day.

One member of the Fox 2/11 Forward Observer team was aboard, Pfc Ronald J. Scharf. Although the records are unclear, he probably had been wounded in the ground action and was being evacuated.

Counting the NVA POW there were eleven living men aboard the aircraft, and one body being evacuated. It therefore appears that ten Americans died in the incident, just as stated in the VHPA database, and eleven all told as stated in the HMM-364 Chronology. The only discrepancy is 3/5's failure to account for Pfc Scharf, who didn't actually belong to them - by leaving him out the 3/5 Chronology shows only ten living men and Cpl Storm's body aboard the aircraft. The ten Americans who died were

• Aircrew, HMM-364:
  • 1stLt Robert W. Armenio, Cambria Heights, NY, pilot;
  • 1stLt Daunt B. Sanders, Seattle, WA, copilot;
  • GySgt Raymond Gibel, McKeesport, PA, gunner
  • Cpl John H. Harris, Greeley, NE, gunner
  • Cpl John T. McDaniel, Clarksville, IN, crew chief
  • LCpl Michael F. Gramlick, Gardena, CA, gunner
  
  
• Corpsman, MAG-16:
  • HM1 Charles L. Hackworth, Imboden, AR
  
  
• F Btry, 2/11 Marines:
  • Pfc Ronald J. Scharf, Kenton, OH
  
  
• L Co, 3/5 Marines:
  • Cpl Ralph D. Storm, Union City, CA (Silver Star) (ground KIA, body being evacuated)
  • LCpl Leon R. Barickman, Lewisville, MN, chaser
  • Pfc Paul M. Du Charm, Washington, DC, chaser

   

CREW AND PASSENGERS
 

On the morning of 27 July 1969 1stLt. Schoener and his co-pilot 1stLt. Mathews, plus two gunners, a corpsman and a crew chief, departed Marble Mountain for the standby medevac mission at An Hoa.  Normally the medevac package was operated from Marble Mountain Air Facility.  However, when enemy activity increased around the area of An Hoa, the Arizona Territory and the Que Son Mountains, some of the medevac assets were stationed there to expedite the response time and subsequent transfer of wounded Marines to appropriate medical facilities.

Lt. Schoener's crew flew 3.5 hours on their shift which was described as "routine" even though several of their calls were for emergency evacuations.  Some time after 14:30 YK-10 with 1stLt. Robert W. Armenio and crew arrived to relieve Lt. Schoener's crew.  Lt. Armenio had taxied to the standby pad, shut the aircraft down and was preparing to transfer the corpsman and other medevac related gear from Lt. Schoener's helicopter to his when a call was received for another emergency evacuation.  The pick up zone was advertised to be secure and since the gear had not been transferred to YK-10, Lt. Schoener told Lt. Armenio that he would take this evacuation before returning to Marble Mountain.  Lt. Armenio simply said, "No Chic, we'll take it".  The transfer of medical related equipment and the corpsman was made in an expeditious manner.  Both helicopters lifted from An Hoa with Lt. Armenio headed for the coordinates of the emergency medevac and Lt. Schoener headed back to Marble Mountain.

The H&MS-16 Command Chronology states: "On 27 July 1969 at 1530 hours, 17 miles SW of Da Nang, Quang Nam Province, RVN.  Crew of YK-10 (bureau number 154018) of HMM-364 flying on an emergency medevac mission.  Upon departure from the pick-up zone the aircraft received intense small arms fire and automatic fire.  Aircraft impacted uncontrollably, exploded and burned.  Aircraft consumed by fire.  All crew and passengers were killed.  Eleven lives were lost."

Eye witnesses of the crash indicate it probably was due to both hydraulic boost systems being shot out which caused the aircraft to crash uncontrollably.  Colonel Schoener indicates that to this day he has a vivid memory of his last face to face meeting and conversation with Lt. Armenio.

Roger Birmingham, former LCpl. USMC was a Squad Leader with Lima Co. 3/7 and was present when YK-10 was shot down.   I hate to keep adding to these but I have some more eye witness information on Lt. Armenio's death.  My best friend, Roger Birmingham, was a LCpl. with Lima Co, 3/7 and they were there when we lost Lt. Armenio.  After several days of heavy fighting they found that the gooks had heavy caliber weapons and communication wire running from their shooting holes.  The army had been patrolling the area from the air and Fox Co 2/7 walked into a hornets nest.  They had 70-75 % casualties when they called for a medevac and that was Lt. Armenio.  He never had a chance.

It was in the afternoon some time . I was sitting in a bomb crater , the CH-46 came in all most over my head and sat down about 200 feet from me. There was one POW that I remember and LCpl. Barickman. There was no firing going on at that time and then the chopper lifted off nose down and stated climbing then all hell broke loose. I was still sitting back on my pack and saw the chopper go in to his bank to the left. I did not know at that time the chopper crashed . I was to busy shouting at the people who were shouting at the chopper. Well the rest of the story, well we will leave it there.

I am going to my Viet Nam Company reunion the 20th of this month (June 2007) and will ask who else may have been on board. You know Frank I only knew Barickman on that 46 but, I mourn all the guys who were on board and lost their life that day, July 27,1969 that day of my life it with me till the day I die.

Well  my tour went on and two days later I was wounded and was evacuated by a CH-46.

Those were some brave Men on those CH-46s and they will always have my respect.

James A. Brown
 
 

Information provided by:
    HMM-364 Command Chronology
    Chic Schoener, Colonel USMC(Ret)
    Roger Birmingham, former LCpl. USMC
    Norman E. Dare, former Sgt. USMC
    Ken Davis, Commander USN (Ret)
    James A. Brown, former Cpl. USMC

PFC Paul Madore DuCharm was born on 15 December 1947 in Washington, D.C. and died gallantly on 27 July 1969, in the Que Son mountains, Quang Nam Province, South Vietnam. Paul was only 21 years old and had been in Vietnam for 27 days.

Paul DuCharm graduated from Barstow Junior High, Barstow, California in June 1962; Abington High School, Philadelphia, PA in 1966; and Valley Forge Military Academy College in 1968.

Paul Madore DuCharm enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in the Fall of 1968. On 30 Jun 1969, Paul arrived in Vietnam and joined Lima Company, 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines, 1st Marine Division, at the An Hoa camp.

On 18 July 1969, Lima Company left An Hoa and began a reconnaissance in force combat operation called Durham Peak. This combat operation was located in Antenna Valley and the Que Son Mountains in Quang Nam Province. This area is 17 miles southwest of Da Nang.

PFC Paul DuCharm died when the helicopter he was on (CH-46A BuNo 154018) was shot down.

PFC DuCharm, you will never be forgotten. Even as the years pass, Vietnam keeps coming back to us. You gave the supreme sacrifice for your country. You served the Corps honorably and died gallantly in battle.

PFC DuCharm, always a Marine, forever a Hero. Miss you, my dear friend. God Bless and Semper Fi.

PERSONAL DATA
  Home of Record: Mesa, Arizona
  Date of birth:  Friday, 03/05/1948

MILITARY DATA
  Service:        Army  (Regular)
  Grade at loss:  E3
  Rank:           Private First Class
  ID No:          19840562 
  MOS:            11B10 Infantryman
  LenSvc:         Less than one year
  Unit:           C CO, 1ST BN, 5TH INF RGT, 25 INF DIV

CASUALTY DATA
  Start Tour:     Tuesday, 04/05/1966
  Cas Date:       Thursday, 05/26/1966
  Age at Loss:    18
  Remains:        Body Recovered
  Location:       Province not reported, South Vietnam
  Type:           Non-hostile, Died Of Other Causes
  Reason:         Other causes - Ground Casualty

ON THE WALL       Panel 07E Line 109

THE WHITE HOUSE

WASHINGTON

It was with deep regret that I learned of the death of your son, Private First Class Bobby J. Barefield, United States Army, while serving in Vietnam.

Your son was a soldier who served his country well and performed his duties in an efficient manner. His fine soldierly qualities and devotion to duty earned for him the admiration and respect of his military associates.

While I realize that words cannot lessen your grief, I sincerely hope that you will find comfort and strength in the knowledge that our Nation is deeply grateful for his contribution to its security.

Mrs. Johnson joins me in extending our deepest sympathy to you in your tragic loss.

A Note

Bobby Joe Barefield
is remembered by his comrades from the

5th Infantry - the Bobcats

CITATION:

Airman First Class Pitsenbarger distinguished himself by extreme valor on 11 April 1966 near Cam My, Republic of Vietnam, while assigned as a Pararescue Crew Member, Detachment 6, 38th Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Squadron. On that date, Airman Pitsenbarger was aboard a rescue helicopter responding to a call for evacuation of casualties incurred in an on-going firefight between elements of the United States Army's 1st Infantry Division and a sizable enemy force approximately 35 miles east of Saigon. With complete disregard for personal safety, Airman Pitsenbarger volunteered to ride a hoist more than one hundred feet through the jungle, to the ground. On the ground, he organized and coordinated rescue efforts, cared for the wounded, prepared casualties for evacuation, and insured that the recovery operation continued in a smooth and orderly fashion. Through his personal efforts, the evacuation of the wounded was greatly expedited. As each of the nine casualties evacuated that day were recovered, Pitsenbarger refused evacuation in order to get one more wounded soldier to safety. After several pick-ups, one of the two rescue helicopters involved in the evacuation was struck by heavy enemy ground fire and was forced to leave the scene for an emergency landing. Airman Pitsenbarger stayed behind, on the ground, to perform medical duties. Shortly thereafter, the area came under sniper and mortar fire. During a subsequent attempt to evacuate the site, American forces came under heavy assault by a large Viet Cong force. When the enemy launched the assault, the evacuation was called off and Airman Pitsenbarger took up arms with the besieged infantrymen. He courageously resisted the enemy, braving intense gunfire to gather and distribute vital ammunition to American defenders. As the battle raged on, he repeatedly exposed himself to enemy fire to care for the wounded, pull them out of the line of fire, and return fire whenever he could, during which time, he was wounded three times. Despite his wounds, he valiantly fought on, simultaneously treating as many wounded as possible. In the vicious fighting which followed, the American forces suffered 80 percent casualties as their perimeter was breached, and Airman Pitsenbarger was finally fatally wounded. Airman Pitsenbarger exposed himself to almost certain death by staying on the ground, and perished while saving the lives of wounded infantrymen. His bravery and determination exemplify the highest professional standards and traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Air Force.

CITATION:

While on a flight over North Vietnam, Captain Sijan ejected from his disabled aircraft and successfully evaded capture for more than 6 weeks. During this time, he was seriously injured and suffered from shock and extreme weight loss due to lack of food. After being captured by North Vietnamese soldiers, Captain Sijan was taken to a holding point for subsequent transfer to a prisoner of war camp. In his emaciated and crippled condition, he overpowered one of his guards and crawled into the jungle, only to be recaptured after several hours. He was then transferred to another prison camp where he was kept in solitary confinement and interrogated at length. During interrogation, he was severely tortured; however, he did not divulge any information to his captors. Captain Sijan lapsed into delirium and was placed in the care of another prisoner. During his intermittent periods of consciousness until his death, he never complained of his physical condition and, on several occasions, spoke of future escape attempts. Captain Sijan's extraordinary heroism and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty at the cost of his life are in keeping with the highest traditions of the U.S. Air Force and reflect great credit upon himself and the U.S. Armed Forces.

MILWAUKEE — Over the last three decades, he has grown into almost a legendary figure not just in Bay View, the working class Milwaukee neighborhood where he (and I) grew up, but among Vietnam War vets, historians and others familiar with his story.

In 1976, eight years after he'd died in the notorious Vietnam POW prison known as the Hanoi Hilton, Lance Sijan was awarded the Medal of Honor, the first Air Force Academy graduate to receive the medal. Some 20 years later, Malcolm McConnell, also a Bay View native, wrote a critically acclaimed book, "Into the Eye of the Cat," that documented Sijan's extraordinary efforts to stay alive after his F-4 was shot down over Laos on Nov. 9, 1967.

(Despite a broken arm and leg, the 26-year-old Sijan evaded the Viet Cong for 46 days. Then, after being captured and severely tortured, Sijan who'd lost 100 pounds from his 6-foot-2 frame somehow overpowered a guard and escaped into the jungle before being recaptured several hours later. He died on Jan. 28, 1968.) Even John McCain, this country's most celebrated POW survivor, singled out Sijan for praise in his best-selling memoir, "Faith of My Fathers." "I never knew Lance Sijan," the Arizona senator wrote, "but I wish I had. I wish I had had one moment to tell him how much I admired him, how indebted I was to him for showing me, for showing all of us, our duty for showing us how to be free." So why, many have wondered, is Sijan buried at Arlington Park Cemetery on south 27th Street in Milwaukee and not in Arlington National Cemetery in Washington, D.C., where most U.S. war heroes end up?

And why is his gravesite marked with a simple bronze plaque on a flat stone?

As it turns out, there's no great mystery behind those questions, says Syl Sijan, Lance's father, who still resides in Bay View with his wife, Jane.

His son was buried at the Milwaukee cemetery because the family had purchased a large plot there many years ago "and we wanted the physical presence of Lance right here," the elder Sijan said in a phone interview. And while the gravesite itself is relatively modest, it's similar to John F. Kennedy's burial site in Arlington National, he pointed out.

Nonetheless, Sijan, a former bar and restaurant owner, says that he and his wife are supporting a drive to raise $10,000 for an 8-foot marble memorial at the site that would be built in the configuration of an F-4. The site would include a bench and a small park-like area set beneath a large American flag.

And the reason they support it, he says, is because they've heard from many people over the years who have complained not only that they had trouble finding the present site, but that there's nothing there that explains exactly who Lance Sijan was and why he was awarded the Medal of Honor.

The Sijans, by the way, didn't officially find out about their son's death until 1974. And while three decades have helped heal the pain, Syl Sijan makes it clear that he still blames President Lyndon Johnson for what happened on that grim November day in 1967.

"Because Johnson was directing the strike missions," he says, "and the enemy knew when each one of those was going to happen. They were shooting down four or five of our planes a day. So Lance had a pretty clear concept that his chances of surviving those missions were pretty slim. He'd talked about that." Ted Fetting, director of Veterans Services for Milwaukee County and the man who's spearheading the fund-raising drive, says he wasn't even aware that Sijan was buried at the Milwaukee cemetery until being contacted by a California man last year. The man explained that he was headed for the East Coast, but that he had great admiration for Sijan and had specifically stopped in Milwaukee to visit his grave. When he asked Fetting for directions, Fetting admits being dumbfounded.

"I just assumed Lance was buried at Arlington National," he says.

In any event, Fetting says the drive had raised about $7,500 as of last week, and he's confident it will hit the $10,000 mark in the next few months. (Those interested in contributing should contact Fetting at 414-271-2426.) The timetable for the actual construction of the memorial will be pretty much up to the Sijans, he says.

Fetting, who earned three Purple Hearts in Vietnam as a machine gunner, says he's delighted to be playing even a minor role in the whole scenario.

"It seems we bestow heroism rather cheaply these days, on people who can throw a baseball 100 mph or who excel at golf," he says. "So why not recognize a Milwaukeean and Wisconsinite who truly lived and died a hero?"

Charles "Chuck" Bebus was shot down on the 21st of December 1972 over Hanoi. The reason I know is that I flew that night with a different crew over Hanoi. Chuck and I were classmates going through the B-52 Gunnery School at Castle AFB and we had not seen each other after gunnery school until that night.

The night he was shot down we met at the base gym where the crews were waiting to be issued their in-flight meals for the evening. While waiting for our respective crew in-flight meals to be prepared, we spent about ten minutes catching up how each other had been doing. We then picked up the crew meals and proceeded to our respective aircraft.

The next day I was informed by the wing gunner that Chuck and his crew did not make it. They had taken a SAM hit over their target. The wing gunner mentioned it to me because he saw Chuck and I sitting and talking the previous night in the gym.

Chuck and I were part of a new Air Force program for B-52 gunners. We were in the very early groups of individuals who were allowed to train as B-52 gunners right out of basic training. We were called "baby gunners" due to our youth. I think Chuck was the 4th baby gunner to go through the program, I was about the 8th one, as I was a class behind Chuck. Each class of gunners had about 8 individuals in the class, most were NCO's who were cross training. But in each class was at least one individual who was straight from basic training. Chuck was a really nice guy.

On 21 December 1972, a B-52G bomber (tail number 58-0198) operating from Guam was hit by an SA-2 surface-to-air missile after coming off target. The seven men aboard were

• LtCol Keith R. Heggen, captured, died in captivity (remains repatriated 1974);
• LtCol Edward H. Johnson, radar navigator, MIA;
• LtCol James Y. Nagahiro, pilot, captured and released in February 1973;
• Capt Donovan K. Walters, co-pilot, MIA;
• Capt Lynn R. Beens, navigator, captured and released in February 1973;
• Capt Robert R. Lynn, electronic warfare officer, MIA; and
• A1c Charles J. Bebus, gunner, MIA.

As Boxer 22 was passing through 6000 feet while pulling off after its first attack the F-4 was hit by 37mm antiaircraft fire. Danielson turned toward South Vietnam but lost aircraft control and the crew was forced to eject a few miles east of the target. Both men reached ground safely but were several hundred yards apart and on opposite sides of a river. Worse yet, they landed in an area heavily populated by well-armed and unfriendly NVA troops. The only good news was that Danielson and Bergeron could communicate with each other and with supporting aircraft using their survival radios.

SAR efforts began at once but the rescue helicopters found themselves flying into a virtual storm of fire. At least 7 helos from Nakon Phanom and Udorn made rescue attempts, and all were shot up with one crewman killed in action: A1C David M. Davison, 40th ARRS, in HH-53C tail number 68-8283. A total of 88 SAR sorties were flown before sundown on the 5th, but to no avail.

The SAR forces returned at first light on the 6th, with fixed-wing aircraft hosing down the area in an attempt to suppress the ground fire. During the morning hours Bergeron advised that he heard shouts and gunfire from the area where Danielson was hiding and that he'd not been able to contact Danielson since. Fixed-wing aircraft laid smoke screens for the helicopters, but repeated rescue efforts ended with shot-up helicopters and no success (one HH-53 got stuck in a tree and was able to break loose only by breaking the tree). A total of 154 sorties were flown on the 6th, but at sundown Bergeron still was on the ground. After sundown, Bergeron could hear NVA troops using dogs in an attempt to find him amongst the bamboo and tall grass in the river valley.

The SAR attempts began again at sunrise on the 7th with fixed-wing strikes on the NVA positions, but the first HH-53 in was driven off by ground fire. Following additional air strikes, another smoke tunnel was laid and an HH-53C was brought in, flanked by A-1 Skyraiders blasting away at everything in sight. Bergeron saw the approaching helicopter and broke cover, heading toward the river. The HH-53C crew spotted Bergeron, dropped a rescue hoist, and reeled him in.

The SAR effort extended over 51 hours and involved a total of 366 aircraft sorties. Although Bergeron's evidence indicated Captain Danielson had been located by the NVA and apparently killed in a shootout, there was no positive evidence of Danielson's death. He was carried as Missing in Action until 19 July 1976, when the Secretary of the Air Force approved a Presumptive Finding of Death. His remains have not been recovered.

Bone Fragment Ends Vet's Search For MIA Father

A single fragment of bone.

It's enough, the son says. A family and a nation have done all they could.

"It's time. It's time to accept that he's dead and bring him home," the son, Brian Danielson, said of his dad.

Capt. Benjamin Franklin Danielson was 26 when his F4 Phantom fighter jet was shot down over Laos in December 1969 during the Vietnam War. The Air Force listed him as missing in action until 1976, then presumed dead.

Lt. Cmdr. Brian Danielson, 39, a Navy pilot from Kenyon, followed his father into the air, though he was just 1 year old when his dad went to war, 18 months old when Capt. Danielson was shot down.

Last year, after directing operations of a squadron of carrier-based planes in Iraq, Brian Danielson got permission from the Joint POW/MIA Command to join a ground search.

It would be a search along the Ho Chi Minh Trail and he would be the first active-duty service member to participate in a search for an MIA father.

That search and a subsequent visit to another site turned up no new evidence.

But with the weight of what was found earlier, including a "highly probable DNA match" from the bone fragment found in 2003, the in-country experience persuaded Danielson and his mother, Mary, to call an end to the long seeking.

"You could shoot holes in all the investigative work that's been done. You could drive yourself crazy. But we found out what we needed to know. ... We have the certain knowledge that he is dead. And I got to go to Laos and see how the process works," Brian Danielson said.

Now the Navy flier is planning a final flight for his father, with military escort from the DNA lab in Hawaii to Minnesota, and a June memorial in Kenyon. He plans a military flyover there and a reunion of people who tried to rescue his father, many of whom he has met.

He has invited veterans, too, and people who wore a bracelet bearing his father's name.

His mother, still in Kenyon, added a note to the invitation: "If you have known us, walked along with us from afar, or just knew of our journey, you are most welcome to join us."

Brian said his long odyssey taught him much about his father, the man as well as the fellow combat pilot.

"Because I was so young, I don't have that personal relationship or knowledge of him," he said. "But I've learned that he was a good man.

"A lot of people have said my dad would be proud of me. That feels pretty good. That's about as good as it gets for a father-son relationship."

On Dec. 5, 1969, Ben Danielson took off from Cam Ranh Bay, South Vietnam, to intercept North Vietnamese troops on the Ho Chi Minh Trail.

Another pilot saw his plane pitch violently, according to military reports. Two parachutes opened. Danielson and 1st Lt. Woody Bergeron, his weapons officer, landed on opposite sides of a river.

Rescue teams made hundreds of sorties trying to save the two downed fliers. They were driven back by enemy fire, and one helicopter crew member was killed.

Danielson and Bergeron could see each other across the river and communicated by radio. But the next morning, Bergeron heard sounds of close fighting from Danielson's position, then silence.

Bergeron was rescued after 51 hours in the jungle. He has talked with Brian Danielson, telling him what he could about those last hours, and he plans to attend the memorial.

In 1990, Brian and his mother established a leadership award in his father's name at St. Olaf College in Northfield where father and son both played football.

A year later, the father's service pistol was found in a Vietnam museum. In 2003, a piece of bone and a set of dog tags were brought to U.S. authorities in Vietnam. DNA testing indicated the bone almost certainly was Danielson's.

As he returned from Laos last year, Brian Danielson talked about living with his father's absence.

"If you aren't careful, life can pass you by," he said. "I believed and still do believe that the last thing my father would have wanted would be for me to miss opportunities in life because I was too distraught over the circumstances of his disappearance."

He's disappointed the team failed to find anything in Laos, but quick to praise the effort.

"This is the most important thing I've ever done," he said. "I was able to go to the area where he was killed. I walked around and did some soul-searching. Mom and I talked and decided it's time to close the books on this and be thankful for what we have."

He is thankful "for all the people who've stepped in because my father wasn't there," and for strangers who cared enough to wear a bracelet.

He said, "I've been contacted by a family who said they had been wearing my dad's bracelet for 23 years." They said there was never a doubt in their mind that we would find my dad and bring him home."

Apr 2, 2007

Prisoners of War / Missing In Action